5 ms·

I had a friend who didn't hire someone because he was very religious. During the interview he refused to shake her hand, and stated that in no manner should a

by lee 16y ago

I had a friend who didn't hire someone because he was very religious. During the interview he refused to shake her hand, and stated that in no manner should a female touch him (such as tap him on the shoulder...etc...). He was the most qualified person from those interviewed, but she just couldn't hire him because of his extremist views. I think she made the right choice.

loumf 16y ago
I know that seems extreme, but even in some liberal orthodox Jewish denominations, men and women don't touch (except for husband/wife of course). I'm pretty sure that not hiring on this basis is illegal, and in some places, like NYC, it's extremely common. I'm not Jewish, but have worked with, and known, and have many friends who hold these beliefs. I have never thought of them as being extremists. I think this specific person might have explained it inartfully.
- jacquesm 16y ago
  Liberal and orthodox in one description feel kind of funny.
  - loumf 16y ago
    yeah -- there are gradations -- I'm just saying that even the most liberal of the orthodox Jews I have known still follow this. Which is why I don't think of it as extreme -- it's a fairly common practice. Also, think of it from this guy's case. He has a religious belief -- he knows that you might think it's odd (based on past reactions, no doubt). He's not very good at explaining it -- perhaps he's nervous because it's an interview.
three14 16y ago
This comment was interesting to me because I know several people like that guy - and their religious views would be better described as "extremely different culturally" than extremist with the common connotations of extremism. I'm having trouble translating the cultural norm, here, but I guess you could say that for them, the not touching women thing is simply a set of rules you don't break that serve as a safety barrier against real trouble like adultery. If no man ever touches a woman other than his wife, and is never in a private space alone with a woman other than his wife, then it's hard to get a relationship off the ground. I think cultural norms in the U.S. might take sufficiently little issue with adultery these days that even with explanation, the behavior is alien, but it's not the sort of extremism like "let's blow people up because we imagine God likes that." Then again, she might very well have made the right choice. People don't easily ignore culture.

by lee 16y ago

loumf 16y ago

I know that seems extreme, but even in some liberal orthodox Jewish denominations, men and women don't touch (except for husband/wife of course). I'm pretty sure that not hiring on this basis is illegal, and in some places, like NYC, it's extremely common. I'm not Jewish, but have worked with, and known, and have many friends who hold these beliefs. I have never thought of them as being extremists. I think this specific person might have explained it inartfully.

jacquesm 16y ago
Liberal and orthodox in one description feel kind of funny.
- loumf 16y ago
  yeah -- there are gradations -- I'm just saying that even the most liberal of the orthodox Jews I have known still follow this. Which is why I don't think of it as extreme -- it's a fairly common practice. Also, think of it from this guy's case. He has a religious belief -- he knows that you might think it's odd (based on past reactions, no doubt). He's not very good at explaining it -- perhaps he's nervous because it's an interview.

three14 16y ago

This comment was interesting to me because I know several people like that guy - and their religious views would be better described as "extremely different culturally" than extremist with the common connotations of extremism. I'm having trouble translating the cultural norm, here, but I guess you could say that for them, the not touching women thing is simply a set of rules you don't break that serve as a safety barrier against real trouble like adultery. If no man ever touches a woman other than his wife, and is never in a private space alone with a woman other than his wife, then it's hard to get a relationship off the ground. I think cultural norms in the U.S. might take sufficiently little issue with adultery these days that even with explanation, the behavior is alien, but it's not the sort of extremism like "let's blow people up because we imagine God likes that." Then again, she might very well have made the right choice. People don't easily ignore culture.